Nyssa plant named &#39;THE JAMES&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nyssa  tree named ‘The James’, characterized by its broadly ovate tree form with upswept branching habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches providing a full and densely foliated appearance; large glossy dark green-colored leaves that become orangish red in color during the autumn; and red-colored leaf petioles.

Botanical designation: Nyssa sylvatica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘THE JAMES’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nyssa tree, botanically known as Nyssa sylvatica, commercially referred to as Upland Tupelo or Black Gum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘The James’.

The new Nyssa tree is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’, not patented. The new Nyssa tree was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single tree in a outdoor nursery environment in McMinnville, Tenn. on Aug. 31, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nyssa tree by chip budding in a controlled environment in McMinnville, Tenn. since March, 2014, has shown that the unique features of this new Nyssa tree are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Trees of the new Nyssa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘The James’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘The James’ as a new and distinct Nyssa tree:

1. Broadly ovate tree form with upswept branching habit.

2. Vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches providing a full and densely foliated appearance.

4. Large glossy dark green-colored leaves that become orangish red in color during the autumn.

5. Red-colored leaf petioles.

Trees of the new Nyssa can be compared to trees of the mutation parent, ‘Wildfire’. Trees of the new Nyssa differ primarily from trees of ‘Wildfire’ in the following characteristics:

1. Trees of the new Nyssa are more vigorous than trees of ‘Wildfire’.

2. Trees of the new Nyssa have dark green-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Wildfire’ have dark green-colored leaves with red-colored apices.

Trees of the new Nyssa can be compared to trees of Nyssa sylvatica ‘Tupelo Power’, not patented. Trees of the new Nyssa and ‘Tupelo Power’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

1. Trees of the new Nyssa have broader branch angles and are broader in overall plant form than trees of ‘Tupelo Power’.

2. Trees of the new Nyssa are more vigorous than trees of ‘Tupelo Power’.

3. Trees of the new Nyssa are more densely foliated than trees of ‘Tupelo Power’.

4. Leaves of trees of the new Nyssa have red-colored petioles whereas leaves of trees of ‘Tupelo Power’ have green-colored petioles.

Trees of the new Nyssa can also be compared to trees of Nyssa sylvatica ‘Forum’, not patented. Trees of the new Nyssa and ‘Forum’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

1. Trees of the new Nyssa are more densely foliated than trees of ‘Forum’.

2. Trees of the new Nyssa have broader and glossier leaves than trees of ‘Forum’.

3. Leaves of trees of the new Nyssa are orangish red in color during the autumn whereas leaves of trees of ‘Forum’ are dark red in color during the autumn.

4. Leaves of trees of the new Nyssa have red-colored petioles whereas leaves of trees of ‘Forum’ have green-colored petioles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Nyssa tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Nyssa tree.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typical trees of ‘The James’ grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical tree of ‘The James’ grown during the summer.

The photograph on the third sheet is a side perspective view of typical trees of ‘The James’ grown during the autumn in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of a typical tree of ‘The James’ grown during the autumn.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe trees grown in 15-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in McMinnville, Tenn. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Nyssa tree production. Trees used in the photographs and description were four years old. During the production of the trees, day temperatures averaged 20.9° C. and night temperatures averaged 8.4° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nyssa sylvatica ‘The James’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Nyssa sylvatica     ‘Wildfire’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By chip budding the new Nyssa tree onto an unnamed             selection of Nyssa sylvatica understock. -   Tree description:     -   -   Tree form and growth habit.—Deciduous tree with broadly             ovate form with upswept branching habit; vigorous growth             habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             providing a full and densely foliated appearance; about 35             primary lateral branches per tree and secondary branches             potentially developing at every node.         -   Tree height.—About 2.6 meters.         -   Tree width (spread).—About 95 cm.         -   Trunk caliper.—About 4 cm.         -   Branch angle orientation.—Mid-tree canopy branches, about             50° from vertical.         -   Internode length.—About 3.2 cm on one-year old wood.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Mature bark texture.—Woody; smooth, glabrous.         -   Lateral branch color.—Close to 144A, with development,             tinged with close to 165A, and with subsequent development,             becoming closer to 200C.         -   Mature bark color.—Darker brown than N200B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate with cuspidate tendencies.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Color.—When developing, upper surface: More green than 147A.             When developing, lower surface: Close to N137A. Fully             developed, upper surface: Darker and more green than 147A;             in the autumn, variable sectors, close to 44A, 45A and 46A;             venation, close to 146A. Fully developed, lower surface:             Close to 146A; in the autumn, variable sectors, close to 50C             to 50D and 51C to 51D; venation, close to 145C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 145A overlain with close to 46A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 145B overlain with close to             46A. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development have not been     observed on trees of the new Nyssa to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Trees of the new Nyssa have been observed to     tolerate high temperatures about 43° C. and low temperatures about     −29° C. when grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Trees of the new Nyssa have been     observed to be resistant to Leaf Spot (Mycosphaerella nyssicola).     Trees of the new Nyssa have not been observed to be resistant to     pests and other pathogens common to Nyssa trees. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Nyssa tree named ‘The James’ as illustrated and described. 